Why did I start learning Japanese?

Ok, so today I wanted to share with you why I started learning Japanese a little over two years ago.

Here’s the thing, I love learning a new language and I love when I’m capable of understanding things in the same language they are written, like reading books in English that were originally written in English, reading books in Spanish that were originally written in Spanish an watching TV shows in English because they were made in the U.S. or England. Why? Because I think that there is a lot lost in translation when you are reading something that’s been translated. You are not listening or reading the original words that were meant to be there, you are listening to the words a translator used and most of the times, it’s not the same. The jokes, they are not the same. There’s something special about a comedy, especially comedy, that it’s really funny in its own language but once it’s been translated… it’s not so funny anymore.

Well, this exact thing here is one of the reasons I wanted to learn Japanese, in order to be able to watch anime and read manga in Japanese, understanding the meaning of every word that’s supposed to be there.

Also, I like learning a lot about different cultures and I think that learning the language it’s a huge way to understand any culture. There is so much said (or not) with words, it’s such a key component of our life that if you are able to understand how people from a culture talk, you learn to know how they think.

For example, in languages like English or Spanish, words aren’t everything. There are a thousand ways to express things, let’s take sarcasm for example. Or here in Argentina, we tend to add so much meaning to the way we say things, you could say the same word twice but if you say it differently, it’s not the same. On the other hand, in languages like Japanese, words are EVERYTHING. It doesn’t matter how you sound while saying anything, the only thing that matters are the words you say.

But you might be asking, what does this have to do with the fact that I study Japanese? Well, I’ve always felt intrigued by the Japanese culture and I have always wanted to know more about it and what better way to understanding it than learning its language? Also, I would love to be able to watch anime or read manga in the same language it was created, without the help of translators. And last but not least? It’s actually really cool, I can read it and I can write it. I like learning languages, I speak English and Spanish fluently and I know a little bit of French and now I’m learning Japanese, which I think it’s pretty cool.

So, these are the reasons as to why I think learning a new language it’s really cool and interesting and why I choose Japanese.

So I would love for you to tell me: What languages do you speak? Do you want to learn another language? Do you think that learning a language it’s a key part of understanding that country’s culture? I would love to know what you think about this topic, so please let me know in the comment section below! Also, if this is the first time you are reading ITBC please feel free to check the rest of the blog out and subscribe or follow me on any of my social media so you can be notified whenever there is an update on the blog.

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2 thoughts on “Why did I start learning Japanese?”

If you don’t mind, as someone who has studied Japanese for ~20 let me chime in on one thing:

“On the other hand, in languages like Japanese, words are EVERYTHING. It doesn’t matter how you sound while saying anything, the only thing that matters are the words you say.”

Japanese is very much like English in the respect that it matters *how* you say things as much as what you say. I could give many examples but sarcasm (that you mention) is one of them. Coincidentally I just wrote a post the other day that refers to sarcasm in Japanese: